Headquarters3825 Edwards Road, Ste. During the hiring process, you should evaluate candidates not just on both their technical and communication skills. Unless asked, keep your personal opinions or feelings about a project to yourself. I overheard a conversation a while back between a superintendent and a subcontractor. It is, however, important that you share your professional opinions on a project when you feel they could be beneficial to the successful completion of a project. The high costs are a result of the time spent on tasks like finding project information and resolving conflicts. If you’ve ever played the Telephone Game you know it’s not always that easy. But to an electrician, drywall installer, or plumber, “ponding” and “pickling” may as well be a different language. The flow of communication affects the flow of a construction project. I don’t know what the final outcome of the conversation was, but it’s probably safe to assume that the superintendent had to scramble around to find another subcontractor to do the work and that the initial subcontractor probably won’t be invited to work with the contractor again. However, the goal isn’t to purchase every new piece of technology to hit the market. Avoid using jargon or terms that the people you are communicating with might not understand. Correct written communication, avoid slang, keep it direct, simple and legible. Hiring is a challenge in any industry but especially in construction, where an enduring labor shortage has made competition for qualified candidates tougher than ever. It also makes it possible to address problems as soon as they arise. All great teams are made of great individuals. Communication failures happen in construction all the time despite being essential to completing any task. The most-engaged network of construction professionals, up-to-date construction bidding leads. Poor communication can result in misunderstandings, delays, and issues down the road. Both are required to get the job done and make sure the worksite is safe, productive, and efficient. A bad hire can drop morale on your team and also come with unexpected financial costs. Are there other restrictions? Jargon refers to industry-specific words or terms that are difficult for those outside of that industry to understand. Are your projects getting pushed, put on hold, or outright canceled? If communication on a construction site fails, not only can it potentially cause problems and delays for the project, but it can also result in damage to equipment or property or, in the worst case, injury or death to members of your crew. 1063 McGaw Ave. #200 Take notes on key points, don’t just transcribe every word they utter and make notes on details you may need clarification on. All methods of communication have their advantages and disadvantages. Irvine, CA 92614, one in every 10 construction workers are injured every year, 2019 State of Employee Communication and Engagement Study, construction industry is no stranger to jargon, Members of individual crews like engineers, architects, plumbers, and electricians. It’s a manager’s job to establish a work environment where employees are encouraged to communicate openly not just when things are going well, but also when they are confused or dissatisfied. Being a good communicator is a skill that can be improved upon with practice and training. Increase your specification rate, grow your market share, and maximize your selling power with actionable project leads, data-driven insights, and construction industry trends. Bid Center (digital bid board) is available, check it out now! Try to understand what the speaker is trying to communicate from their point of view. We compile daily reports, take photos, create requests for … On the construction site we communicate through signs, drawings, hand signals and meetings. 800Cincinnati, OH 45209877-422-8665. Being a clear writer and speaker is only half the job of being a good communicator. Subcontractors find more project leads, get promoted to general contractors, organize and manage bid opportunities on your online bid board, and perform digital takeoffs. In fact, one in every 10 construction workers are injured every year. Establish a Clear Chain of Command… Establishing open lines of communication ensures team members feel satisfied, valued, and heard. Although the pressure to hire is high thanks to the small labor pool, it will benefit you to take your time to hire the right candidate than get stuck with the wrong hire. Review our privacy policy or unsubscribe here. If a more immediate response is required, read the message aloud to yourself or have someone else take a look at it to get a second opinion. Over 40% said that these barriers reduced overall productivity. The superintendent on a project is typically the main point of contact for the general contractor. Avoid Jargon. Stay on top of COVID-19 and it's impact on the construction industry. Though every company will likely have a slightly different hierarchy, the following positions are common on most construction projects. Knowing how to communicate is useless if employees don’t feel comfortable talking to others on their team. In addition to establishing a clear chain of command for communication and determining the best methods of communication to use, you should also discuss how often you should be updating and communicating with the owner and architect on the progress of the project. Whereas the top of the chain of command on a worksite is the site manager, the organizational structure of a construction company is topped by the company’s CEO. These are a few examples of how construction technology is specifically improving communication in construction. You could miss a vital piece of information that answers your question if you are focusing solely on what you are going to say when it’s your turn to speak. Some of the most important communication skills in construction include: Whether you’re a team leader or an entry-level employee, you can suggest introducing team-building exercises to practice these skills in your workplace and help strengthen team morale.